On 3rd September (Thursday), Konda Surekha, who was serving as the Forest and Environment as well as Endowments minister in the Telangana government, has been dropped by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, ending a weeks-long disciplinary row. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has been requested to approve the recommendation to remove her from the state cabinet.
The action was proposed by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) disciplinary committee. The dispute was sparked by comments made against Revanth Reddy and his family by Konda Sushmitha Patel, Surekha’s daughter. Now, the decision has revealed escalating tensions within the party in the state. Interestingly, there is already a political tussle between Revanth Reddy and Surekha.
“Discipline is paramount within the Congress party as the party’s prestige hinges on discipline of its rank and file. Disciplinary action must be taken so that the party comes to power again,” mentioned Lok Sabha MP and disciplinary committee chairman Mallu Ravi.
The controversy rocks Telangana Congress
The conflict began in August, when Sushmitha made heated remarks about Revanth Reddy at a public function. The Parkal Assembly constituency is at the heart of the issue. Revanth Reddy publicly supported current MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy during a recent event there and asked voters to support him once more in the upcoming election.
However, Sushmitha questioned, “Who is Revanth to decide my ticket?” She dared Prakash Reddy to step down and run against her in a by-election. She also declared that she is going to run from the constituency as an independent candidate if she is denied a ticket by the party.
Moreover, she accused Revanth Reddy of favouring his family members in commercial operations. He was confronted for selling prime land for substantially less than its value to a shell firm connected to his brother. Afterwards, several Telangana Congress leaders demanded action against Sushmitha and Surekha in response to her remarks, which triggered a significant backlash inside the party.
The controversy soon intensified, moving from the state Congress unit to the central leadership. Surekha’s failure to openly disassociate herself from her daughter’s comments further increased the political pressure. However, she insisted that the latter’s opinions were personal and she shouldn’t be held accountable for them.
“Expecting another person to take political responsibility or demanding an explanation for someone’s opinions merely due to family relations is improper,” she submitted as an explanation before the TPCC Disciplinary Committee.
In addition to defending her political record, Surekha cited her and her husband Konda Murali’s social and political status, emphasising that they are members of two backward communities that together make up a sizable portion of Telangana’s population.
Surekha insisted that she had not been charged with corruption and pressed the party to let her stay in the cabinet. She even asserted that she was being targeted by some members of Congress and the demand for her expulsion from the cabinet was the result of a conspiracy.
A series of political meetings
On the other hand, more than 20 Congress MLAs and MLCs, as well as a few ministers, sought strict punishment against Surekha and Sushmitha. Hence, Surekha hurried to Bengaluru to meet Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and argued that she was being unfairly singled out during the meeting. She insisted that she had not personally spoken anything negative about Revanth Reddy or the party.
According to sources, Kharge clarified that unilateral statements about running from a specific constituency and public criticism of the chief minister were against party discipline. He brought up the fact that the party’s central leadership chose the candidates for the election. She also met with the Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan to clarify her stand.
Surekha’s refusal to resign in the face of mounting scrutiny worsened the situation. She reportedly told the senior leaders to take disciplinary action against her, challenging that Revanth Reddy should also endure the same consequences.
On 2nd September, she rushed to Delhi and met with Kharge again as the party’s top brass discussed her future. Senior Congress officials, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal, Revanth Reddy, Telangana deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud and other state leaders deliberated concerning the disciplinary matter.
Revanth Reddy also met with KC Venugopal in the national capital and demanded strict measures against Surekha. However, some others pointed to her political influence and popularity among some of the state’s backward communities and advised the high command to proceed with caution.
The TPCC disciplinary committee eventually stated that Surekha should be ousted from the cabinet, and Revanth Reddy took action.
Surekha denies sacking, Sushmitha curses Revanth Reddy
“I have not received this as of now. No signature, no letter pad, only white paper. I think it’s not correct. I was not given any intimation. I replied to the show-cause notice also and clarified my point. Nobody contacted me from the party,” Surekha contended while talking to CNN-News18, after the development. “Letterhead is not signed. This is not correct,” she insisted, ed raising doubts on the validity of the communication.
“They first had to contact me and take my version. They have removed me without taking my version. After getting official confirmation, I will decide the further course of action,” she conveyed. “I have no sorrow over losing my ministerial post. We have the support of the people. Nobody can do anything to us. A ministerial post is only an ornament for us. Losing it does not cause us any loss. Ministers and MLAs are not happy. What happened to me today will happen to you tomorrow. Nothing is getting done in this government,” she shared with the reporters.
“My statement was personal and not against any party. I just spoke against one person in my personal capacity,” Sushmitha also stressed in a conversation with the media house. She expressed, “Injustice is done to my mother. I am deeply hurt that she has been treated like this.” Sushmitha announced that she would always stand by Surekha, remarking, “My mother will not be silenced. I curse Revanth Reddy,” daring him to contest from her seat.
Meanwhile, senior Congressman G Chinna Reddy’s appointment as vice-chairman of the Telangana Planning Board was also revoked by the government due to comments about Wanaparthy MLA T Megha Reddy. He stated that the latter was handed a party ticket after being lured with money.
Furthermore, Revanth Reddy appointed Gadwal Vijayalakshmi as vice-chair of the Telangana Planning Board, Nerella Sharada as chair of the Telangana State Commission for Women and former Rajya Sabha MP G Sudha Rani as chair of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority as part of an overhaul of important positions.
